Wireless communication system, device, and control method for searching multiple communication frequency channels and processing cryptographic communication in an infrastructure mode using a received communication parameter including information of an encrypted key
This invention has as its object to set a one-to-one relationship upon establishing a wireless communication channel between a wireless communication device on the information transmitting side and a wireless communication device that receives and processes the information even in an environment including a plurality of wireless communication devices, and to assure simple user's operations at least until the communication channel is established. To this end, when the user inputs a wireless communication channel establishment instruction to both a digital camera and printer having wireless communication functions, these devices execute wireless communication establishment processes within an allowable time period which is specified by a time set in a timer and a retry count. When the devices can seize each other within that time period, the communication channel is established. After that, the digital camera sends a sensed image to the printer, which prints the sensed image.
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The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/541,190, filed Jul. 3, 2012, which is a continuation U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/968,131, filed Dec. 14, 2010, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/551,175, filed Sep. 29, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,882,234, which is a U.S. National Stage Entry of International Application No. PCT/JP2004/005588, filed Apr. 20, 2004, which claims priority to Japan Patent Application No. 2003-119052, filed Apr. 23, 2003. The entire disclosure of each prior application is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present invention relates to a communication establishment technique between devices having wireless communication functions.
BACKGROUND ARTNormally, a host computer as a versatile information processing apparatus such as a personal computer or the like and a printer are connected by wire. Such wired connection adopts a USB cable, parallel cable (complying with the Centronics standards (USA)), Ethernet, and the like.
In recent years, digital cameras have prevailed increasingly, and the recording quality of printers has improved as high as silver halide photos. Hence, there are many chances of printing images sensed by such digital camera by printers.
In order to print an image sensed by a digital camera, it is a common practice to transfer that image to a personal computer, and to print it by operating an application program that runs on the personal computer.
However, a digital camera user requires a personal computer when he or she wants to print sensed images, and much time and labor are required from when the user turns on the personal computer until he or she launches an application to print an image. Hence, such processes are far from an easy print process.
In consideration of such situation, the present applicant has proposed some techniques that directly connect a printer and digital camera by wire.
However, since such wired connection requires a connection cable as a matter of course, a demand has arisen for wireless information transmission, and wireless communications have begun to be used in communications between peripheral devices (e.g., a printer and digital camera).
Hence, the current connection method of wireless communication devices between peripheral devices will be explained first.
Note that expression “establish a communication channel” in the following description means not only to set a wireless link but also to establish a logical channel (network layer or transport layer in the OSI reference model) to allow data communications between devices.
Referring to
However, in such prior art, since a plurality of partners of wireless communications may be found, a selection process is indispensable even when only one partner is found.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTIONThe present invention has been made in consideration of the above situation, and has as its object to provide a technique that can raise the possibility that the transmitting and receiving sides have a one-to-one relationship even in an environment in which there are a plurality of wireless communication devices, and can simplify a user's selection operation.
In order to achieve the above object, a wireless communication system according to the present invention comprises the following arrangement. That is, there is provided a wireless communication system which comprises a first wireless communication device that stores information to be transmitted, and a second wireless communication device that receives the information and applies a predetermined process to the information, wherein each of the first and second wireless communication devices comprises: determination means for determining whether or not a wireless communication channel establishment instruction is detected; and communication establishment means for, when the determination means determines that the wireless communication channel establishment instruction is detected, executing a process for establishing a wireless communication within a predetermined time period, and when a communication channel is established by the communication establishment means of the first and second wireless communication devices, the first wireless communication device transmits information to the second wireless communication device, which applies the predetermined process to the received information.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.
Respective embodiments according to the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First EmbodimentThe first embodiment will explain an example that can facilitate search and selection processes of a partner communication device with which a communication channel is to be established in an environment in which network-related setups have already been done.
The digital camera, printer, and storage in this embodiment will be explained in turn.
A console 310 of the digital camera is connected to a CPU 315 via a system controller 311, and comprises a shutter switch and various keys of the digital camera. An image sensing unit 302 is a block that senses an image upon depression of the shutter, and is processed by an image sensing processor 303. A display unit 306 is a block that presents information to the user by means of, for example, LCD display, LED indication, audio presentation, and the like, and its displayed contents undergo a control process by a display processor 307. An operation for selecting information from the displayed contents on the display unit 306 is made in cooperation with the console 310. That is, the display unit 306 and console 310 form a user interface.
A wireless communication function unit 304 is a block that makes wireless communications, and an RF unit 305 exchanges a wireless signal with another wireless communication device. A memory card I/F 308 is an interface used to connect a memory card 309, a USB I/F 312 is an interface used to connect an external device using USB, and an audio I/F 314 is an interface used to connect an audio signal with an external device. These functional blocks shown in this block diagram are processed under the control of the CPU 315. Programs to be controlled by the CPU are stored in a ROM 316, a flash ROM 313, or the memory card 309. Data to be processed by the CPU 315 are written in or read out from a RAM 317, the flash ROM 313, or the memory card 309 (note that the sensed image data is stored in the memory card 309).
A console 410 of the printer is connected to a CPU 415 via a system controller 411. A print engine 402 is a functional block which actually prints an image on a paper sheet, and is processed by a print processor 403. The type of print engine is not particularly limited. In this embodiment, the print engine comprises an ink-jet printer which ejects ink drops onto a print medium such as a print sheet and the like by heat energy.
A display unit 406 is a block which presents information to the user by means of LCD display, LED indication, audio presentation, and the like, and its display contents are controlled under the control of a display processor 407. That is, the display unit 406 and console 410 form a user I/F of the printer 401 in this embodiment.
A wireless communication function unit 404 is a block that makes wireless communications, and an RF unit 405 exchanges a wireless signal with another wireless communication device. A memory card I/F 408 is an interface used to connect a detachable memory card 409. When the memory card I/F 408 receives a memory card mounted in the digital camera, a sensed image can be printed.
A USB I/F 412 is an interface used to connect an external device using USB, and a parallel I/F 414 is an interface used to connect an external device (mainly a host computer) using a parallel communication. These functional blocks shown in this block diagram are processed under the control of the CPU 415. Programs to be controlled by the CPU are stored in a ROM 416, a flash ROM 413, or the memory card 409. Data to be processed by the CPU are written in or read out from a RAM 417, the flash ROM 413, or the memory card 409.
A console 510 of the storage 501 is connected to a CPU 515 via a system controller 511. A storage 502 is a functional block that stores or reads out data, and is processed by a storage processor 503. As the storage 502, a large-capacity storage device, i.e., a hard disk drive, is preferably used. In some cases, a media write drive for CD-R or CD-RW media, rewritable DVD media, MO media, and the like as relatively large-capacity, portable storage media may be used. A display unit 506 is a block which presents information to the user by means of LCD display, LED indication, audio presentation, and the like, and is processed by a display processor 507. An operation for selecting desired one of information displayed on the display unit 506 is made via the console 510. That is, the display unit 506 and console 510 form a user I/F of the storage 501.
A wireless communication function unit 504 is a block that makes wireless communications, and an RF unit 505 exchanges a wireless signal with another wireless communication device. A memory card I/F 508 is an interface used to connect a memory card 509 (to receive a memory card of the digital camera and to directly save data in that card), a USB I/F 512 is an interface used to connect an external device using USB, and an ETHER I/F 514 is an interface used to connect an external device using an ETHER communication. These functional blocks shown in this block diagram are processed under the control of the CPU 515. Programs to be controlled by the CPU are stored in a ROM 516, a flash ROM 513, or the memory card 509. Data to be processed by the CPU are written in or read out from a RAM 517, the flash ROM 513, or the memory card 509.
The arrangements of the digital camera, printer, and storage have been respectively explained. Note that each RF unit has an antenna, which is not limited to an externally protruding one. Especially, in case of the digital camera, portability is an important factor. Hence, the antenna is preferably built in or mounted on the surface in place of the externally protruding one.
Upon detection of an operation of a button used to establish a communication channel via the user interface of the digital camera 301 (step S601), a timer is set (step S602), a retry count is set (step S603), and the wireless communication function unit 304 outputs a communication channel establishment request signal via the RF unit 305 (step S604).
It is checked if a communication channel establishment response is received from a partner device (step S605). If the communication channel establishment response is received, a communication channel is established with the partner communication device (step S606), thus allowing data communications. On the other hand, if a communication channel establishment request is received from a partner communication device (step S607), a communication channel establishment response is transmitted (step S608) to establish a communication channel (step S606). The control waits for reception of the communication channel establishment response or request unless a pre-set period of time elapses before neither of the communication channel establishment response are request are received (No in step S609). If either of these signals is received after the pre-set period of time has elapsed, that is, if the timer has reached a time-out (Yes in step S609), the above processes are repeated from the communication channel establishment request transmission process (step S604) until the number of retries reaches the set retry count (No in step S610). On the other hand, if the set retry count has been reached, the communication channel establishment process is aborted. That is, the control returns to a state before the instruction is input in step S601.
When the control shown in the flow chart of
To explain more simply, a case will be examined below wherein the user wants to print a sensed image stored and held in the digital camera by the printer via a wireless communication. In this case, the user operates wireless communication channel establishment operation buttons of the digital camera and printer within an allowable time period (about 10 sec=time-out time×retry count suffice). Since objects to be operated are only two devices on the information transmitting and receiving sides, even when there are a plurality of printers, only two devices, i.e., the designated digital camera and printer, undergo the processes shown in
When the user makes button operations for wireless communication channel establishment operations on the digital camera and storage within the limited time period, a communication channel between these devices can be established, and a save process of sensed images can be easily done.
In subsequent processes, since the communication channel has been established, the user need only select an image to be printed or saved, and transmits the selected image on the digital camera side, and the printer prints the received image or the storage saves the received image, as in wired connection. Hence, a description of such processes will be omitted.
The difference between
Referring to
If the digital camera executes the control shown in
As described above, in order to print a sensed image held in the digital camera, the user must operate instruction buttons for communication channel establishment operations on two devices, i.e., that digital camera and a target printer. Hence, if there are a plurality of printers, the digital camera receives a response from only one printer. Therefore, it is nearly unlikely that responses are received from a plurality of printers in step S807 in
The flow chart of
If the digital camera executes the control shown in
Referring to
According to the above process, the operator of the digital camera 301 can start a print process by selecting an image to be printed in advance, and then inputting a communication establishment instruction to both the printer and digital camera, thus obviating the need for any wireless communication setup operations.
Referring to
If it is determined that the print request from the wire is detected (Yes in step S1101), a printout process designated by that request is executed (step S1102). If it is detected that the instruction button for a communication channel establishment operation is operated (Yes in step S1103), a communication channel establishment process is executed according to one of the control processes shown in
If the communication establishment process has failed in step S1104, wired connection is enabled, and the flow returns to step S1101 while skipping steps S1105 and S1106.
In
Upon detection of the operation of a communication channel establishment operation instruction button (step S1201), it is checked if a printout process from a device connected by wire is in progress (step S1202). If the printout process is in progress, the current print data is printed out to where it is convenient (to the end of a page in practice) (step S1203). At this time, a busy signal is output to the device connected by wire to control it to wait for transmission of the next page. Then, a communication channel establishment process is executed (step S1204). Only a print process from the wireless communication channel is accepted (step S1205) before that communication channel is disconnected (step S1206). After the communication channel is disconnected, a ready signal is output to the device connected by wire to continue the print process from the wire (if pages to be printed still remain) (step S1207).
If the printer 401 of this embodiment comprises a large-capacity storage device (hard disk or the like), the aforementioned busy signal need not be output. This is because data received via the wire need only be sequentially spooled in the above storage device.
Second EmbodimentThe second embodiment will be described below. The second embodiment will explain an example that can facilitate search and selection processes of a partner communication device with which a communication channel is to be established even in different networks.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
When the digital camera executes the control shown in
Referring to
If one device returns a response (step S1604), a wireless communication channel with that device is established (step S1607). If a plurality of devices return responses, a list of the devices that respond is displayed (step S1605) to prompt the user to select one communication partner device (step S1606). Then, a wireless communication channel with that device is established. That is, if one device returns a response, connection is established to that device without any user's intervention.
When the digital camera executes the control shown in
The third embodiment will be described below. The third embodiment will explain an example that facilitates search and selection processes of a partner communication device with which a communication channel is to be established regardless of the communication mode.
Referring to
After a communication channel is established (step S1705), an operation is made in the adhoc mode. If the communication channel is disconnected (step S1706), the control returns to the stored operation mode (step S1707). Note that the process for transmitting image data from the digital camera to the printer (or storage) and printing (or saving) that image data is executed while No is determined in step S1706.
When the processes shown in
The reason why the sequence shown in
The printer of this embodiment is used in an environment in which its print data generation source is not limited to only the digital camera, and receives and prints data from a personal computer (not limited to one computer). Hence, the printer is normally set in a print data reception waiting state in the infrastructure mode via the access point.
According to the sequence shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
In this manner, when the digital camera executes the control shown in
Referring to
Referring to
In this manner, when the digital camera executes the control shown in
The fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The fourth embodiment will describe an example that automatically sets communication parameters for an infrastructure mode, and allows wireless communication devices to easily make wireless communications.
Referring to
Referring to
In this manner, when the digital camera executes the control shown in
The first to fourth embodiments have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. For example, the present invention may be applied to a case wherein a specific button, power switch, specific touch panel switch, or the like is used as means for establishing a communication channel. Likewise, embodiments that adopt, as a wireless communication mode of a wireless communication device, the adhoc mode of a wireless LAN, the infrastructure mode of the wireless LAN, a communication mode such as BLUETOOTH, or the like, and adopt, as wireless communication devices, a digital camera, printer, storage, scanner, data input device, data output device, and the like which have a wireless communication function, can be easily implemented.
Combinations of the control processes and devices are not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the control methods of the digital camera and printer may be replaced, or the control method of each of the above embodiments may be implemented as that for another device. As a communication mode, the adhoc and infrastructure modes have been exemplified. However, in terms of control, these two communication modes can be replaced with each other, or communication means other than the wireless LAN such as BLUETOOTH and the like can be defined as communication modes.
As described above, according to the embodiments of the present invention, when a wireless communication channel is to be established upon transmitting an image from the digital camera to the printer (or storage) and making the printer (or storage) print (or save) that image, even if there are a large number of wireless communication devices, a communication is more likely to be established to have a one-to-one relationship, and operations required for the user can be simple.
As described above, according to the present invention, even in an environment that includes a plurality of wireless communication devices, since a one-to-one relationship can be set upon establishing a wireless communication between a wireless communication device on the information transmitting side and a wireless communication device that receives and processes information, simple user's operations can be assured at least until the communication is established.
As many apparently widely different embodiments of the present invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the claims.
Claims
1. A wireless communication device comprising:
- one or more processors; and
- one or more memories including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the device to:
- determine whether an operator has made a first operation for establishing a communication channel;
- search, using one of a plurality of frequency channels in turn, another wireless communication device at which a second operation for establishing a communication channel has been made;
- establish, in a case where the another wireless communication device at which the second operation has been made is detected within a predetermined time period from when the first operation has been made, a communication channel with the another wireless communication device even if the predetermined time period does not elapse from when the first operation has been made, so that a wireless network between the wireless communication device and the another wireless communication device is formed;
- wherein the predetermined time period is a time period that the wireless communication device continues a process for establishing a communication channel in a case where the another wireless communication device at which the second operation for establishing a communication channel has been made is not detected;
- receive, from the another wireless communication device on the formed wireless network, a communication parameter including information of an encryption key which is used for a cryptographic communication in an infrastructure mode of a wireless local area network common to the formed wireless network; and
- perform processing for the cryptographic communication in the infrastructure mode with the another wireless communication device using the received communication parameter including information of the encryption key.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device notifies the operator of an error in a case where the wireless communication device does not detect, within the predetermined time period, the another wireless communication device at which the second operation has been made.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device establishes the communication channel with the another wireless communication device without intervention of operation by the operator after it is determined that the first operation has been made.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device transmits a request signal for establishing of the communication channel.
5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the wireless communication device transmits the request signal a plurality of times.
6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the wireless communication device receives a response signal corresponding to the request signal.
7. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a timer to measure a time elapsed from when the first operation has been made.
8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is a digital camera capable of capturing an image.
9. The device according to claim 1, wherein the communication parameter further includes information of SSID (Service Set Identify).
10. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device establishes the communication channel with the another wireless communication device even if the another wireless communication device is not set as a default.
11. A method for controlling a wireless communication device, comprising:
- determining whether an operator has made a first operation for establishing a communication channel;
- searching, using one of a plurality of frequency channels in turn, another wireless communication device at which a second operation for establishing a communication channel has been made;
- establishing, in a case where the another wireless communication device at which the second operation has been made is detected within a predetermined time period from when the first operation has been made, a communication channel with the another wireless communication device even if the predetermined time period does not elapse from when the first operation has been made, so that a wireless network between the wireless communication device and the another wireless communication device is formed;
- wherein the predetermined time period is a time period that the wireless communication device continues a process for establishing a communication channel in a case where the another wireless communication device at which the second operation for establishing a communication channel has been made is not detected;
- receiving, from the another wireless communication device on the formed wireless network, a communication parameter including information of an encryption key which is used for a cryptographic communication in an infrastructure mode of a wireless local area network common to the formed wireless network; and
- performing processing for the cryptographic communication in the infrastructure mode with the another wireless communication device using the received communication parameter including information of the encryption key.
12. A non transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program to be loaded to and executed by a computer,
- the computer executing the program to execute:
- determining whether an operator has made a first operation for establishing a communication channel;
- searching, using one of a plurality of frequency channels in turn, another wireless communication device at which a second operation for establishing a communication channel has been made;
- establishing, in a case where the another wireless communication device at which the second operation has been made is detected within a predetermined time period from when the first operation has been made, a communication channel with the another wireless communication device if the predetermined time period does not elapse from when the first operation has been made, so that a wireless network between the wireless communication device and the another wireless communication device is formed;
- wherein the predetermined time period is a time period that the wireless communication device continues a process for establishing a communication channel in a case where the another wireless communication device at which the second operation for establishing a communication channel has been made is not detected;
- receiving, from the another wireless communication device on the formed wireless network, a communication parameter including information of an encryption key which is used for a cryptographic communication in an infrastructure mode of a wireless local area network common to the formed wireless network; and
- performing processing for the cryptographic communication in the infrastructure mode with the another wireless communication device using the received communication parameter including information of the encryption key.
13. The device according to claim 1, wherein the formed wireless network, by establishing the communication channel between the wireless communication device and the another wireless communication device, is a wireless network in an adhoc mode.
14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the formed wireless network, by establishing the communication channel between the wireless communication device and the another wireless communication device, is different from a wireless network in an infrastructure mode.
15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device disconnects the formed wireless network according to receiving the communication parameter from the another wireless communication device.
16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the wireless communication device transits from the formed wireless network to the wireless local area network of the cryptographic communication when the wireless communication device disconnects the formed wireless network.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 27, 2015
Date of Patent: Apr 7, 2020
Patent Publication Number: 20150365919
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA (Tokyo)
Inventors: Mitsuhiro Watanabe (Kanagawa-ken), Ken'ichi Fujii (Katsushika-ku), Masanori Nakahara (Chigasaki)
Primary Examiner: Daniel C. Murray
Application Number: 14/837,700
International Classification: H04W 72/02 (20090101); H04W 40/24 (20090101); H04N 1/00 (20060101); H04L 29/08 (20060101); H04L 29/06 (20060101); G06F 3/12 (20060101); H04W 84/12 (20090101); H04W 76/10 (20180101); H04W 76/14 (20180101); H04W 28/18 (20090101); H04W 4/00 (20180101);
